If you actually have light magic and youre just not telling them until later, then great; youve foreshadowed without even trying. However, while I do hope to write something that others enjoy, it is also for myself, and I like thinking about things and would not want to write something logically impossible. In some magic systems, gods or other powerful beings are the source of all magic. This was long enough ago to be remembered as an advanced society falling, but its manner of advancement being conflated with the magic that exists now, and most specific knowledge of it lost. If you fail to understand the role that magic will play in your story and develop your system accordingly, then you run the risk of undercutting the conflict and tension that keep readers turning pages. This has been extremely helpful! We've covered the source, the wielders and they way they wield power, but we still need to cover one of the biggest factors of magic, which is the power itself. If they are limited, its usually not by some universal magical law, but rather a handicap in their source of power. In Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, magicians owe a demon years of their life in exchange for magic. If I use strength to push a boulder, that boulder gets the amount of energy while moving (with a little bit of entropy when it comes to friction, of course). Demigods have partial powers, which they inherit from their Olympian parents. Oh wow that turned out to be a lot of text. Another possibility is that some kind of complex structure is involved that can navigate to a desired destination. Internal logic, that is, otherwise thered always be that magic doesnt exist bit to fight against. Take Noethers Theorem for example. In my plant-based system, there could be a lineage with the biological adaptation to absorb the magical substance directly, without using the plant as an intermediary. 1. Eating it makes them very sick, but because of this immune reaction, they can cast more powerful spells. Building Your Own Hard Magic System. However, a few fantastical powers can go a long way toward livening up many fantasy stories. Anyone can use it, the power doesnt come from the gods, but you do have to follow a recipe. It doesnt take years of training. Theres a lot to figure out about the basics, before you can think about sub-types. Easier than fire/heat and air/wind, but it takes training.). While both of these magic systems have mysterious aspects, in general they dont invoke wonder because they are understood. Interferers can make things happen because when they add energy to the system, it is concentrated in one place. Are there any natural elements which are home to magical powers or are there any which could house magical powers? If you want conservation of energy, you could show those who use specific powers, magical or psychic, having to replenish that energy in some way (through food, meditation, or something similar). The costs of magic can be physical, societal, or even financial. If you can convey the rules of your system in a way the reader can understand, you have a rational system. Or, stepping away from the elements as a such, a mage needs to chant specific words to achieve a specific result (classic spell work). In essence, theme is nothing more than an answer to the question, What is this story about? Theres a good chance that your story already contains themes regardless of whether you consciously developed them. You just need a set of guidelines that all of your spirits/nymphs follow. A basic form of mana manipulation is cloaking their bodies in mana to protect them from harm (sort of like Aura in RWBY). With so many spec fic books, its not unusual to have such coincidences. This is harder to work with, because the divine are technically spellcasters themselves, and incredibly powerful ones. Would a human wield magic differently from an elf? Thanks! You can have several sources of magic, but you need to bring them together in a way that makes sense at least in the novel. SO, questions: where is the magic energy coming from in the environment? Your story may also include a chosen one thats extra special. A dwarf named Keti seeks a company of adventurers to steal a powerful arcane device from a rival. The audience has no idea what they can do other than what theyve been directly told, so if they do anything new in a crisis, it will look like a deus ex machina. but gods, spirits, and demons can. You could use something like that (being able to project and harness energy) to give your psychics telekinesis by them having those invisible arms. Which, of course, means someone could develop a force field to protect themselves from those arms.. Your answer could have huge ramifications for your world. You mentioned Mana, Life and Mind as the elements of your magic system. If I may make a suggestion as to how to tie these four together, have it not be the first time this has happened. Light? Its at its strongest during a thunderstorm and is the most dynamic of the Primals, as the mage is always connected to the Primal at a given time. When you suddenly decide to change the way magic works or it looks like it, because youre winging it with the system readers get unhappy. She might exchange one persons hand for anothers, but she might not deem two lives equal. Anyway, just to throw MY 2 cents in A while back, I was trying to design a magic system for a Skyrim Mod some friends of mine were attempting That ultimately went nowhere. Mandrake, which is featured in the second book, has historically been associated with witchcraft. I wouldnt work with spells with such a system. But its repeatedly said in the series that spells can be cast when the user feels strong emotion, so it could possibly be connected in that way to the old magic. All you need are the right ingredients, follow the right steps, and have the right mindset. I hope this is a reasonable explanation. However, understanding how magic can operate in fiction is key to ensuring that your magic system serves your story rather than undermines it. If a mage has no limit to what they can do, why not simply find one who solves all the problems for your hero with the snap of a finger (or a well-conducted ritual)? In a rational system, there would be an explanation for how magic works where it comes from, what limits there are, how it is used. Otherwise, your categories will feel contrived. Casting also generates colors based on how much power you drew upon to cast it. For example: Your mum had speed enhancing paint you will have some form of it or Your mum had paint that could carry poison within it, your dad had paint that could take the physical appearance of slime and your grandma had paint that floats you now have floating poisonous slime paint. And you have the buffer, often a rogue or priest, who can either buff the own group (healing, boosting skills) or debuff the enemy (lowering attack or defence most often). Some rituals are inherently harmful, like the ritual thats typically used to find missing persons. On top of this, theres teleportation I still need to consider, which comes with its own host of issues. There might be countless possibilities, but it will take countless years to figure it out. You need to lay down rules and follow them (which is where both Rowlings use of magic in Harry Potter and Lucas use of the Force in the original trilogy fail). For example, if you need a magic source which is unlimited a good choice would be a magical power given by the gods or magical energies within the air. How does the energy reach an object (including a brain) without affecting and potentially being dissipated by everything in the way (including air)? Side note, can anyone contact the spirits, or does it require a special gift.. But, in general, all those energies are more-less equally distributed everywhere. Even with a teacher it takes years to become proficient. Few ideas are original at this point. Specific effects include communicating with others, working together as a group, and riding inside the minds of others. ;P. I doubt anyone will read this, but I had this flash of inspiration on my commute home today for a magic system for a book thats been spinning in my head for a while. Moon magic: Moon magic draws power from the spirit and energy of the moon. They are infused with magic, its part of their genetic makeup. That will tell you what the Empire could have that the mages cant just conjure for themselves. Martin or the show writers lean hard by revealing how it works, I think theyll reveal something thats logically consistent. Everyone is also born with it. Precursor aliens might do the job if they had certain motivations (such as wanting to set up a certain situation to see how it develops), but this raises questions of how such a large group made of many different individuals could all stay hidden for such a long time. What can your high fantasy magic do as in abilities and cant do like limitations? He has three great articles on building them, named after what he calls his three laws. Wind, or life, or just movement? But in the real world, moving out of the way would be easier; since spells have straight paths when cast, why use magic when theres an easier non-magic method of avoiding harm? There are Waterbenders that Bloodbend, Firebenders that shoot lightning, and the occasional Earthbender that Metalbends. . Ask yourself what kind of problems magic will cause your protagonists, and whether your antagonist will use magic to achieve their goals. The Towers will 3 pairs of contrasting ideas. If everybody is capable of wielding magic they will likely use it for everything, from war to daily life, but if only a portion of the population can wield it it means magic will be handled differently by those who can and those who can't wield it. It does seem likely that humans, with their limited lifetime, would not master all elements in a system of elemental magic, but it is, of course, possible for humans to use different types of magic or magic from different sources all at once. Magicians train to control different aspects of reality, but a magician is also constrained to the limits of reality. This article was extremely helpful to me in figuring out my magic system. All magic is fueled by mana, a form of energy found in all living organisms. Caster is Combustial, Given is Earth and rock Korra did it but that was more so of Avatar state then an Airbending technique. You should ensure that the conflict and resolutions in your story arent as fickle as the magic. My main question is whether you think the weaving should be specialized; i. e., should I break it up into different types of thread/weaving style/knots? SWAMP, kind of based off of iguanas in design, rare chance of getting magic. If were told that a heros ability tires them out, but they can always push through their exhaustion when they need to most in the story, then we stop considering their exhaustion when considering whether we should be worried about them. Players cast spells by arranging corresponding runes in different configurations to express the Spells intention, With the Runes inter-playing off each other in a Rock/Paper/Scissor manner. this is all super helpful! Obviously this is another aspect which heavily depends on your story universe, but most methods can be twisted to fit. Moreover, the party must complete the quest without killing anyone. This is only my second serious piece of writing, so its really encouraging to hear stuff like that from someone like you. However, humans actually have relatively little energy I dont have the precise numbers, but I have read that using only your own energy, you wouldnt actually be able to lift very much at all. I disagree. All life on Terra (my world) is born with a connection to one of these Primals, and what magic they can perform depends on the Primal theyre connected to. To build this logic, start by thinking about three things: the effects, sources, and costs of magic. Motion The Sorcerers faction includes wizards and witches and then theres sub factions with in the faction that include the like of temptresses, necromancers and others I cant seem to remember though I have them written down somewhere. This same punishment theory may explain why humans are killed for trying to harness and redistribute sunlight. If youd like I can send you a link and you can follow along as I figure stuff out (dont want to clog up your comments section). Thats a neat trick you used for replying even when the thread space has run out. You could also INCREASE existing energy in an object (Eg- Can make a Moving ball move faster) Or you could DECREASE existing energy in an object (Eg- Can make a Moving ball slow down and even stop & become completely static). However, most people wont deviate from what they know to work to avoid wasting their time on a failed ritual or potentially hazardous consequences. Maybe they are all for structural integrity, without them the world explodes outward into the vacuum of nothingness. From the other side, putting lot of fire energy into single point will produce real fire, moving air energies will make air blows. I also want the systems to be distinct, but relatively balanced. You could explain telekinesis (telepathy, too, I guess) with having invisible energy arms which are connected to your body and grab the object in question (or create a connection to another being for telepathy). All three should work together to create the magic system. Can ones magical abilities be stolen or suppressed through fantastical or physical means? Is it connected to religion or religions of your world (since something based on the principle of good and bad [if you have to keep that, use evil instead of bad] should have a connection to religion)? That Interferer found others like them and went around killing the common people in revenge for shunning them and taking Conduits prisoner (to use them for power). Mystical Paths A slightly humorous generator that produces new mystical practices for characters. Magic should be limited when its used by humans or other mortal beings as opposed to being used by divine or other immortal beings. I dont like giving writers a formula for magic systems. It is believed in this world, at least by this group of acolytes, that the nighttime is caused by plants absorbing the sunlight, and the dawn only comes because the Living Mother has taken it into her hands to manually restore the balance and takes back the light. ;). Ask yourself if your antagonist will be a magic-wielder, and if there will be magical creatures in your story. Most magic systems used in medievalish fantasy have groups of people with access to the same spells and abilities, though their talent with magic will vary. Everyone has their own power level amount of energy they can produce in one go. If every spell casts creates a knot that must result in the opposite effect happening then the incentive to kill becomes too great. I originally wanted a free form system where just about anything was possible. Wavelength: Determines how strong the affect it has Despite that, it can still be used to many different and wonderful effects, think like some of the stuff Aang does. If Luke needs to suddenly call out for help while hes hanging below a floating city, he can make contact with Leia (without their relationship already being an item). So, basically it will be a portal (or teleportation, in case if anyone makes the bond from surrounding air blob, for example). The younger generation tend to favour unconventional weapons. Other magic that is extremely rare is healing lethal injuries or bring someone back that was just killed (only have a certain amount of time to do it). (And I LOVE the idea of sea water improving magical power- its like a psudeo science in the sense that you could say that the Sea Water makes the magic (like electricity) conduct better and so being around it over long periods would wear off on you and make you more powerful? That was exactly what i thought! It is an epic drama that, year by year, is played out before humanity. For this reason, it is particularly dangerous to withhold kinetic energy and should be redistributed as soon as possible else you risk dismemberment from energy escaping randomly). As fascinating and logical as this system is I think it loses points on merit and morality and doesnt set a good example to children. And after reading this article, Ive found there is one important question missing: How exactly magic affects the world? Moreover, there are clearly references about people performing experimental magic that can have deadly consequences, for example Luna Lovegoods mother dies from experimenting with magic and there are parts of the Ministry of Magic that regulate magic and how it is performed. Though a mages mana reserve grows as their body gets used to their energy loss, certain acts of magic that require large amounts of mana can leave a mage drained of energy and will require them to rest and recharge their energy. Waving around a wand isnt as simple as you bang it out to be. Or you could simply say that air is good for dodging, while earth is good for blocking. They have averge control over their ability. They should be able to deduce, if they want to, what a magic user (or a psychic) can or cant do and you shouldnt suddenly throw someone in who can do something that should be impossible by the rules you set down and showed before. However, if your magic system serves more to create a fantastical ambience than to resolve any major conflicts, then explaining how magic works on the page likely isnt necessary. I see the basis of a rational magic system there, and you have good limits. You need to make your sub-types of magic logical parts of the main type of magic. Oh, and the fantasy series Im cooking up is called Fantasia. Thank you! If you follow this rule, readers will appreciate the awe and mystery of the magic without feeling like it cheapens the story. Silver drains magic and therefore hurts all creatures that are magic. Maybe if their contact to spirits is limited, or the spirits themselves have goals that dont line up with the protagonists goals. Many systems treat magic as energy similar to heat, magnetism, electricity, or movement. Thats what I mean when I say Dumbledore and Voldemort should have paid for their enormous use of power at the ministry of magic in Harry Potter. For more inspiration and guidance in creating your magic system, I recommend these articles and resources. Following is a list of all the abilities that can be generated by the Abilities Generator. Using mana is no different from using up stamina, the more magic you use, the more energy that is used up. : Magic source description generator This description generator will generate a fairly random description of a the way magic works in a random world. In The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, magic is like law. All students learn the same (unless its an elective) and can use the same types of magic. Magic, though commonplace, isnt an essential element in fantasy fiction. Theyre more afraid of the death of their world than their own personal death, however. The former is more mysterious, dangerous, and wild, able to do far more but without much control by those who have little experience. Also I like the fact that the Mages of the world are very politically influential feels so real because thats what would happen! We have a knowledge of these beings, many of them exist in our mythology as gods, angels, demons, etc. The random Magic Type Generator is a free online tool that lets you generate random Magic Type content for your fantasy or writing project with the click of a button. Thats not a rational system, because theres no understandable rules to it. Vampires are electromagnetic, which is why they are hurt by sunlight (photoelectric effects), are solid but turn to dust when killed (they actually are dust, and their solid form is a magnetic shell), have superstrength (they can easily lift metal objects, and can use opposing magnetic forces to move their own body quite forcefully). It may sound similar to Avatar but it is growing. Or it could indeed be a matter of merely thinking things into existence specific ability necessary. Last, heres a fun chart showing the details of magic systems in the most popular works. that you realize that the magic system in Tolkien is actually much more a spiritual and religious system based on the two fudamental pillars of his sincere Catholicism and his strong distaste for the worlds of contemporaries like C,S, Lewis where the Christian allegory was blatant or at best obvious enough to leave the writer open to the charge of being preachy. In case if something enters inside such bonded blob it will exit on the other side of the bond. Mind energies are bit different: they could be bonded with any type of energy. And the HPMOR fanfic mentioned above is about a Harry who does want to find out this why although I dont think it succeeds at conveying this particularly well in the story itself.). Of course, I wholeheartedly believe that considering each element of your story is the surest way to craft an engaging novel. That way, it would mean using that energy to influence an element. The cosmic balance is set up to where the Aether and Souls rely on eachother, Aether creates and maintains the World and Aether flourished and continues to exist through our Actions. Theres three kinds of people: Apaths (Apath, sing. Thank you the idea about energy. and much if not all this her non original content that she is taking from is founded in actual fairy tales with absolutely no magical or rational system. One final aspect to think about is whether or not those who cannot wield power can somehow gain the ability to do so and if those who can wield magic can lose the ability do so and if those changes can be reverted. Use this guide as best fits your approach to magic. Were he an adult already, thered be hardly a limit for him, apart from morals. In the same way that you can learn to control your emotions, you can learn to control the magic that comes from those emotions. Once again, grab a sheet of paperthis time to brainstorm magical sources. VINE DWELLER, based off of forest nymphs from folklore in design, moderate chance of getting medium to strong Eco magic, extremely rare chance to get weak magic of another Type as well. Ocean magic is strongest during winter. How does a user summon magic, and how does that magic manifest (i.e. Ill be checking this site for updates everyday, so thank you in advance of letting me share my crazy idea with you all. The audience will be looking for the pieces that might come together in the climax to enable the hero to win, rather than waiting for the hero to have an emotional moment when there is no other viable turning point. It could range from absolutely anything to a single effect such as moving objects or pausing time. Magicians are taught to learn about the natural forces within magic if they want to better control them. Magic does exist and it follows rules is the first rule of a rational system. Decay would be speeding up entropy, life would be slowing it down or trying to instill some kind of anti-entropy into the world. The only limit is your imagination. When a person deliberately causes an imbalance that person becomes the cork plugging up the hole, so to speak. Thelema, Goetia, Gematria, Thaumaturgy, Alchemy, Hermeticism? The mandrake has been considered magical, because its roots do look vaguely like a human being. It is pretty lose, yea, but it is still there and we have seen magic systems like this a thousand times. Old Magic might easily just be a reference to magic used on a more instinctive or subconscious level hence Lilys sacrifice can create a protection for her son, because she wanted with all her heart to keep him protected. will you include other living beings that conduct photosynthesis like phytoplankton or algae? This sounds intriguingly cool, although if youre designing it for use in a computer game, might I ask how are you handling the problem that (I would imagine) youd have to assign EVERY object/environ in your game world a energy attribute/variable, dictating how much player the Player can draw upon, and what happens when the Player hits that limit? However, we can only identify that its missing because the system is logically consistent as a whole, even if it isnt perfect in every depiction. The thing is, I believe that what seems natural in these cases can depend on culture and perhaps even species. Oreads are nymphs of Mountains. Divine magic is often more powerful/useful, but isnt always reliable. Your storys magic system may fall somewhere between these two extremes, and thats perfectly fine so long as you understand the role that magic serves within your story. Its not just about the energy needed to transform a body into energy and then back into mass, its also about controlling where the second transformation takes place (splicing would be a problem or manifesting through matter its what cost Heimlich from the Brian Helsing series his right lower arm).
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